Regents, stewards keep downtown Mobile safe, clean

View full sizeBrian Sandifer is one of the "yellow shirts," or Crew of Regents, who serve as ambassadors for the city of Mobile. Sandifer has been a regent for the past three years. (Press-Register/Victor Calhoun)

MOBILE, Alabama — There is an element of good in downtown Mobile that often goes unnoticed by even the businessmen and women who live the bulk of their lives downtown.

They zoom in and out of our downtown periphery on bikes in the evenings and in their purple trucks by day, and are known by various names, but the “Wizard of Oz” fan would call them “good-deed-doers.” They are the Crew of Stewards and the Crew of Regents, and the bottom line is, they are here to help.

The six employees who comprise the Crew of Stewards are also known as the “purple shirts.” According to Clayton Ratledge, operations manager for the Downtown Mobile Alliance, this crew is responsible for maintenance, power washing, and horticulture within the 77 blocks in the Business Improvement District.

“This team maintains about 200 seasonal (flower) beds, in addition to reporting any maintenance issues to the proper agency, such as broken lights, windows and anything that needs repair,” Ratledge said.

The Crew of Regents, or “yellow shirts,” serve as ambassadors for the city of Mobile. Their range of duties includes working with police to deter crime and discourage panhandling; unlocking and jump-starting cars free of charge; and giving advice to visitors while distributing a LoDa guide, which features a downtown map and tips on restaurants and attractions. Their crew of five works day and night shifts, seven days a week.

View full sizeBrian Sandifer tells guests in Bienville Square that public consumption of alcohol is not allowed in downtown Mobile. (Press-Register/Victor Calhoun)

The employees’ paychecks come from Service Group Inc. out of Philadelphia, which has been under contract with the city of Mobile for the past five years. The city contributes some funding, but the majority comes from an assessment on properties lying within those 77 blocks.

Brian Sandifer, who has been a regent for the past three years, said he never knows what to expect in his job. “A couple of weeks ago, I found a .40-caliber pistol disposed of on the side of the street,” he said, “with the magazine not far from it, and there was still a round of ammunition in it.”

The regents’ hotline number is 327-SAFE (7233); whether it is to help unlock a car, or just walk someone to their car if they are feeling uncomfortable, a regent can be there within seconds.

“The police even call us when someone is locked out of their car, since we have more of the training and tools to take care of it,” Sandifer said.

The Regents also work with 15 Place and the Mobile Parks and Recreation Department to assist with homeless referral, helping them find shelter, a shower or simply a lunch.

Brochures and key tags with the hotline number are available from the Downtown Mobile Alliance office on Dauphin Street, or from a crewmember. Look for the guys in yellow and catch them doing a good deed.

(This story was written by Karen Spaulding, Press-Register correspondent.)